Hope this helps.

Well, I thought my prior message included the photobucket picture. Let's try again

Ahh, better, figured out how to post the pictures:

Here's the ugly:{{gwi:44891}}

Here's the wall: {{gwi:44892}}

and a few others around the yard:

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You've done a great job! Looks really nice. I think I'd leave that expensive retaining wall where it is and either put stone facing on it, stucco it, or faux paint it to look like stone and just be done with it until the day comes when there is a structural integrity issue. You may want to consult someone about what will adhere to the surface since I see a little evidence of moss- moisture.

It looks like your evergreens are cedars? - maybe you just want to do some very light shaping when they are dormant - not like lollipops but just a nip here and there to shape.

The expensive retain wall has to stay where it is, we were contemplating putting in another decorative wall like the one in the 2nd picture, but as I said, contractor keeps putting us off, and I'm wondering if I can make it look nice without spending the big bucks.

Yes, I think they are cedars, we trimmed the heck out of them, taking off all of the bottom growth, but I can see where some top trimming would help as well.

I'd like to see some sort of garden grow in front of them, but can't quite figure out where to start.

climbing hydrangae vines would cover that wall beautifully or perhaps ivy. both have tendrills so they would cling to the wall. i would leave the hemlocks and simply underplant them to hide the leggy-ness of them.

I think that you have a beautiful home, and yard but I agree that this one area could use some work. I have only a small suggestion for maybe just covering up that ugly concrete wall, which is what I believe you are in attempt to do. Have you considered a wood lattice that could be based just on the other side of the wall and rise maybe just to the base of the limbs on those evergreens. Then choose a vine that could climb up to cover the wall and onto the lattice. I personally love Parthenocissus tricuspidata"Fenway Park." And this stuff does well anywhere.
Check out these stats:
sun sun/shade
height 40.0 ft(only if it has somewhere to grow)
width 0.0 ft
water average/dry
growth rate average/fast
hardiness zones 4-8
soil well drained soils/dry soils

flower inconspicuous flowers
seed bluish black berry
foliage Deciduous
fall color red

This would require small maintenance every year trimming it to make sure it doesn't get out of control, but it would be worth it.

Also you could go the reverse route, and get a vine that could start on the opposite side of the wall and force it to droop over that wall.

~Milan~

funny, I never thought about growing anything on the wall itself, just about trying to underplant to make things looke better.

Would love to have something draping down, but unfortunatley the other side of the wall is my neighbors driveway.

I'd leave that expensive retaining wall where it is and either put stone facing on it, stucco it, or faux paint it to look like stone

alyrics suggested what I would, a faux finish on the wall. There are some great concrete stains and finishes on the market that can make that wall look wonderful.

I don't think you need "another" retaining wall to start a nice planting in front of the wall. Plantings don't have to be level to look nice. In fact the sloped grade provides visual lines that a flat space does not.

Putting a wall in to make a bed like the one you already have will kill the conifers, as you'll be burying the trunks. Your first decision is, do they stay or do they go? They are quite cool looking, they sure are a nice buffer, and that would be one stark wall without them.

You can certainly do something under them, some plantings that meander down the slope, maybe with some boulders to provide some structure and focal points, but you are working with very challenging growing conditions there. Hemlocks (if these they are) are shallow-rooted so will compete with your plants, and like all conifers they drop a lot of debris. Finding plants that will grow and thrive there is very hard work (has taken me 15 years to learn the skill for my similar situation, I'm sure you're a faster learner). Depending on the sun direction it's basically dry shade, or maybe some very dry, acidic sun, but you need plants that can grow up as the debris mounds up, and if you have weevils or other pests that can thrive in those dry conditions, you've got a challenge. Note that your grass doesn't grow there, and it will recede further as the trees grow.

By the way, I hope you do your neighbours the favour of maintaining your trees to mitigate the effect on them. My neighbours don't.

KarinL

Looked up acid staining concrete online and there are some VERY cool options.

I think we've pretty much decided to leave the Hemlocks there. The only good reason to get rid of them would be to establish a better planting bed, but ever the optimist I'll try to work with what we've got. Shallow roots are definatley a concern.

We've been in this house two years and have had no debris from these plants, so that's a good thing.

Any suggestions on what to underplant these with? As I said earlier, I was thinking a layer of shrubs to hide the trunks. Something that would grow in the area where there is no grass, then that would free us up to plant perennials in the next layer, where there is a bit more sun.

I'm thinking I'll lay out a hose to find the right shape, edge it, cover the grass with paper and a layer of compost to prep it for planting next year.

As far as the neighbors go, we always ask their permission to stand on their driveway to trim our trees/bushes. We've also weeded their driveway when the weeds growing in the cracks of the retaining wall get to be about 2 feet high ~eyes rolling

As far as plant selection is concerned, my experience of gardening under a huge Chamaecyparis lawsoniana says you need plants that can withstand drought, acid soil, and shade. (Your hemlocks may not litter much now, but they may later). It can be a tall order. Some plants that really almost thrive for me in this settings are a silver-leaved cotoneaster that is evergreen, Acanthus mollis, yew, and various ferns. I can make hydrangeas work, and I also grow Decaisnea, Sambucus, boxwood, Euphorbia, shrubby Hypericums, and some others. Hostas don't do so well except maybe H. ventricosa. But that one, and a lot of other plants, I grow in pots under the tree. You could also experiment with Cyclamens.

Growing plants in this kind of environment is one thing, which I can manage. Designing a nice layered mixed border is another entirely. If you get it right first time, you deserve an award.

KarinL

If I were in this situation,
I would cut those evergreens down. They are ugly. SOrry, but I think they are. They look silly cut like that.
Then I would either stain or paint that wall a nice color taken out of the stone color of your other retaining wall.
That is cheap. Scrub the wall real good with a little bleach and water to get that moss off first.
A couple weeks after you stain or paint,
go to a hardware store and see if you can find some kind of geometric or cool looking trellis to attach to the wall.
You can even build one if you want, something creative. Then I would paint or stain that also to match the wall.
Then go buy any vine that is flowering and beautiful, you have suggestions here. Something fast growing.
If you like the evergreen look, try planting some arborvitaes in the fall. They are cheap, about 30.00 for a nice 5-6 ft tree at Home Depot. Instant bright green privacy.(I love arborvitaes)
Or plant mabey one arborvitae, one Rose of Sharon, one hydrangia, to look varied instead of all arborvitaes.
I would use big rocks on the slope.
I would plant all different kinds of flowering plants, ornamental grasses and bulbs coming down, try a big V shape coming down to a point at the bottom. (sorry it's hard to explain)
Your garden beds everywhere else around the house are gorgeous!
You have really done alot of work and you have good taste!
What ever you do, I am sure it will be beautiful.
Good Luck to you.